There are moments where life in general is going extremely well. Everything appears to be falling into place; everyone's in good health; we have great jobs; the right doors are opening; and there is a roof over our heads to rest at night. It's during these times that we celebrate and reflect on the goodness of the Lord. For me personally, I have recently watched some things unfold that I have been waiting to come to pass for decades, right before my eyes. It is in these good times that we pause and remember those who are going through extremely bad times.
A few nights ago, I had one of those God-infused dreams — a message that God was giving me to give to the body of Christ. This dream, the message, is a little meatier than what I am used to sharing. I believe it is a "current state of the church" message, a warning to the church and a message of guidance and hope for the body of Christ. But first, I am reminded why God gives us dreams, correction, edification, and guidance. The reason is summed up right here: "Whom we preach, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present them perfect in Christ Jesus" (Col. 1:28).
The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head (Micah 2:13 NIV). In a prayer meeting a few weeks back, someone mentioned the topic of a window in the context of a recent dream. From the time this person said "window" until now, throughout the days I have been seeing visions of windows opening up from just about all angles. The theme "Windows of Opportunity" just keeps resonating. Some reading this have experienced endless closed doors, roadblocks, and blocked paths over these past few years. This has left you wondering why so many obstacles have come against you.
"Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in" (Psalm 24:7 NIV). I understand that our nation and many others were founded on Christian principles. I am also aware that there are many serious issues arising to the surface in our country that are in severe jeopardy. This country is going through an extremely challenging time—one of the most severe and serious moments that we've ever seen. America needs a lot of prayer and many miracles. In light of the election results, we must also understand the times that we are in. God is far more interested in devoted Christians serving Him all over the world than a political office candidate who may or may not serve Him.
Winters are brutal up in the North Country. During the summertime I am outside as much as possible. Just a few days ago I was hiking early in the morning along a very common trail I take many times a week. While I enjoyed the natural surroundings and beauty of the moment, an image flashed before my eyes three times of an extremely large, firmly built concrete wall crumbling down right before me. This same image continued to occasionally flash before me throughout the day, and I pondered it over and over. Just about everywhere I went over the next few days, there they were—images of walls crumbling down. My initial thought was, God, You are removing hindering forces; strongholds and fortresses are crumbling down. His said to me, "I am removing unscalable walls from among My people. Walls that have hindered. Walls that have blocked. Walls that have stopped My people from the destiny of their harvest field."
I opened the door and took a step out and instantly I was falling. The next thing I knew I had landed hard on the solid concrete patio. I laid there for a moment looking up into the piercing sun, not exactly sure what happened and how I ended up between the wooden steps and the trailer I was living in at the time. The carpenter, who was sitting on the concrete with a power saw in his hand, stopped and looked up at me, saying, "Are you okay?" After a few more breaths, I responded that I would be fine. I figured out that I had just stepped outside right after the carpenter had slid the wooden steps away from the door. He didn't know I was inside and I didn't know he was working outside. The result: I took a step outside and down I went — and fast!
One of the greatest blessings within the body of Christ today is the creativity of our God — the ability to come up with ideas, concepts, style, and divine flavor that others without Christ do not have. For the unbeliever, it's there — but not tapped to its fullest potential yet. It's like an undiscovered well resting quietly under the sands of a scorching desert. For the believer, the sands are uncovered, the cap has been removed, and that which was once hidden is now revealed through us to bring an all-sufficient well of life to those lost and roaming within the unconfined borders of an endless desert.
At age forty-two, I have been a Christian now almost twenty-three years, having been born again in 1992. Within one year of my salvation, the call of God rang out upon my life, leaving the dirty factory and setting out for Bible College to become a minister. Looking back, there have been distinct times when the patterns of my life shifted, yet the Lord of my life remained the same. It's like when one day the Israelites were eating manna and the next day they were feasting on the produce of Canaan's land (Joshua 5:12). Serving the same God, yet a different pattern.
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